Welcome to 25th Stirling (Dunblane) Boys’ Brigade.
We are always pleased to have new visitors to our website to found out more about what we do at Boys’ Brigade in Dunblane. As one of Scotland and the UK’s largest BB companies in terms of numbers, we are always busy and have a great team of adult volunteers spearheading an engaging and relevant programme. We hope that perhaps you have seen us out and about in the community, perhaps doing a book or donut sale, a charity car wash, serving coffees after church or maybe you’ve seen our wind band or pipers entertaining. Whatever your reason for visiting our website, we’re glad you have come here and hope you can find what you are looking for. Please do email us or find us on social media @dunblanebb if you want to contact us for more information.
I have had the privilege of being Captain of 25th Stirling (Dunblane) BB Company since September 2019. The role is not ‘higher’ than any of the other officers who are the mainstay of everything we do; it does carry the responsibility for overseeing the wellbeing of all of our members, their families and our volunteer officers, leaders and parent helpers. In partnership with the Safeguarding Coordinators of both Dunblane Cathedral and St. Blane’s Churches, with whom we are linked, one of my most important roles is to administer the safe recruitment of new adult volunteers through the Disclosure/PVG system.
Our Company is involved in lots of exciting activities and partnerships that give us all – boys and adults – fantastic opportunities to learn, grow and discover:
– We have monthly collections at our meetings and twice-yearly public collection events for Startup Stirling’s Food Bank
– We are members of the Scotland-Malawi Partnership following our two successful projects in 2016 and 2019 raising substantial funds to renovate and build school facilities in Likhubula through Classrooms for Malawi.
– Our strong connections with Dunblane Cathedral, St. Blane’s Church and St. Mary’s Episcopal Church allow us to take part in and lead services, run events for the congregations and community and benefit from the support of the ministers and leadership teams.
– Dementia-Friendly Dunblane gives us the opportunity to make deliveries of gifts and treats for Dunblane’s older residents in the different seasons of the year and boys enjoy making these intergenerational contacts.
– As a provider of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, we normally have at least thirty boys aged 14-18 volunteering their time on a weekly basis in the community, often supporting charity shops, disability sport, ParkRun, Dunblane in Bloom, Dunblane Soccer Club and many more organisations.
– Over 40 boys, young men and adults are involved in our wind band or pipe band, learning with adult volunteers and using instruments provided by Boys’ Brigade. We regularly entertain around the area at community and BB events such as gala days, Remembrance Sunday, the Dunblane Christmas Extravaganza, parades as far away as Dunfermline and Perth and ceremonies/concerts at Edinburgh Castle, Glasgow City Chambers and Perth Concert Hall.
This year (2023) The Boys’ Brigade as an organisation celebrates its 140th Anniversary (on 4th October). In 2025, our own Company will celebrate its 125th Anniversary, having been founded in 1900. The BB’s Object hasn’t changed in that time: the advancement of Christ’s kingdom among boys and the promotion of habits of obedience, reverence, discipline, self-respect and all that tends towards a true Christian manliness. It’s my – and our team’s – privilege to be part of being creative, contemporary and forward-thinking about putting that Object into action with the boys and young men of Dunblane.
Fraser Boyd
Captain